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To examine consumers' perceptions of nonprescription and prescription drugs and the relationship of these perceptions to drug use, a sample of 200 adult residents of a northern midwestern area who were similar in age and education to the national population was surveyed. Respondents who rated nonprescription drugs as safe and somewhat effective used nearly 90 percent less nonprescription drugs than respondents rating these drugs as safe and ineffective. Respondents who rated prescription drugs as unsafe used approximately 60 percent less of them than respondents rating them as somewhat safe or safe. Data for the study were collected from March 15 to May 15, 1978. The respondents' perceptions of nonprescription and prescription drugs in respect to safety, efficacy, side effects, and overdose effects were measured on a thermometer scale, with anchors at three points (100 degrees for the most positive perception, 50 degrees for the midpoint, and 0 degrees for the most negative perception). Drug use, based on the respondents' recollections, was measured for 2 days before the interview. The respondents rated prescription drugs as safer and more effective than nonprescription drugs, but as having more dangerous overdose effects. Two-way analysis of variance showed that perceptions of the safety and effectiveness of nonprescription drugs and the interaction between these two variables were related to the use of these drugs. Perceptions of the safety of prescription drugs were related to their use.

Deaths by violence (accidents, homicide, suicide) have increased significantly among Alaska Natives who have a suicide rate three times that of the general U.S. population. Self-inflicted gunshot wounds comprised 75 percent of the suicides among Alas...

The local delivery of human services is currently receiving national emphasis. The expectation is that community-based services shall be provided with a minimum of duplication and with maximum efficiency, achieved partly by interdisciplinary and inte...

Two important issues in achieving change are how biomedical and behavioral research advances are viewed and used and the problem of "translation"--that is, how the results are put into practice. Momentum in federally funded research has been continue...

In a previous statewide assessment in Ohio of the percentage reporting of Down's syndrome (DS) on birth certificates, it was found that 33.9 percent of the cases chromosomally analyzed were so recorded. The objectives of this study were to gain a gre...

Adolescent pregnancy and parenthood remain a source of considerable concern, not only due to the well-documented adverse consequences of teenage pregnancy, but also because of certain trends that emerged during the seventies. Survey results showed a ...

In three quarters of a century of observation and research, the effects of fluoride on dental caries and on general bodily health have been well documented. An expanding data base has allowed a firming up of the guidance and standards for appropriate...

The contribution of nutrition in preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized community effort is well recognized. While many gains have been made in public health nutrition, it is clear that the American population con...

Twenty-three medically oriented private health-fitness evaluation centers in the United States were surveyed to determine the types of tests available, protocols used, the availability of exercise prescriptions, qualifications of employees, and facil...

Introduction : Using generic medications for chronic diseases provides efficacy similar to that of brand-name medication use, but at a lower price, potentially enhancing adherence. However, previous studies show that disadvantaged people, who may par...

A national probability sample of the public was asked questions dealing with perceived relationships between diet (especially sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). More than half of the respondents were aware of t...

The Food and Drug Administration is engaged in a broad-based program to make consumers more aware of the potential impact on health of sodium consumption well in excess of dietary needs; to encourage food manufacturers to lower the amounts of sodium ...

This Surgeon General's report on smoking and health is the twenty-third in a series that was begun in 1964 and mandated by federal law in 1969. This report is the first in this series to focus on young people. It underscores the seriousness of tobacc...